Optical-sectioning structured illumination microscopy using high-brightness, high-resolution micro-LED displays

Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) enables real-time, optically sectioned fluorescence imaging, but its adoption has been limited by the complexity and limitations of pattern generation systems. We present a novel OS-SIM system using a commercial 4K micro-LED (μLED) display, which uniquely combines high brightness, fine pixel pitch, and large active area in a single, integrated light source and pattern generator. With a pixel pitch of 9.306 μm, brightness of ~2 million nits, and frame rates up to 100 fps, our μLED-based system supports fast and efficient OS-SIM. We achieved a spatial modulation frequency of 35.8 line pairs/mm over a ~4 cm² field—more than double previously reported values for μLED-driven microscopy. This work demonstrates the transformative potential of μLED displays for compact, high-performance SIM systems.